Can someone here please tell me if the BN line from the Twin Cities to Fargo, via St.Cloud used to be an NP or GN line? I know the line via Willmar was GN, but GN maps also claim the St. Cloud line. Was it joint usage or what? Seems like some GN passenger trains went via this route. Thanks.
Texchris, What you are looking at is the GN Surrey Cutoff, it was built to serve Willmar and a few other towns along the way. The Empire Builder used the Surrey Cut off while the Western Star took the full route through Grand Forks, Devils Lake. Then down to Minn/St Paul. Hope that Helps
Thanks, BN9900. The Surrey Cutoff is actually west of the area I was looking at. But after looking at some more maps, I finally realized that both NP and GN had lines going through St. Cloud on their way to Fargo. The line BNSF uses now is the NP line, while the old GN line is now a branch only going out to about Monticello from Minneapolis.
